Fluid distributing system



Aug. 26, 1941. D. R. HlLLis FLUID DISYTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR m ATTORNEY,

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ATTORNEY.

Aug. 26, 1941. D. R. HlLLls 2,253,785

FLUID DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 l l I 4 fr f 736567677 75 3- 93- p VENTOR BYy Patented Aug. 26, 1941 FLUID DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM David R. Hillis, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hydraulic Devices, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 19, 1936, Serial No.'116,773

6 Claims. (Cl. 221-102) The present invention relates to a uid distrib- `uting system and more particularly to a single- 'line uniiiowrecirculating uid distributing system. ,e v

Heretofore there have been many attempts to provide a fluid distributing system that will pump fluid under pressure through a single pipe line from a reservoir and back to it in a continuous direction of flow. So far as I am aware, all such attempts have failed on the market because they utilized springs for shifting the dispensing valves or the control valves or valves controlling certain inlet and outlet ports; consequently they 'were not positive in their operation.

It is therefore the main object of my invention to Yprovide a single-line uniow recirculating fluid distributing system that is operated entirely by hydraulic pressure.

It is an object of my invention to provide a system for distributing fluid which is extremely adjustable in order to accommodate itself to almost all conditions prevailing at the points requiring fluid to be dispensed.

It is another object of my invention to provide a single-line circuit system that dispenses someof the fluid which is circulated from a reservoir by a pump, the fluid passing through an adjustable volume control device which may be provided in the pump or which may comprise a separate valve, thence passing through a pressure-'f gauge, thence through a pipe line and connecting feeders and thence through a flow impedance and visual flow indicating means and back to the pump reservoir in one continuous direction of flow; thus the Volume discharged from the=- pump may be controlled and a substantially constant or consistent pressure may be maintained in the pipe line for operating the respective hydraulic operators of the feeders and for maintaining sufcient pressure to operate all of the dispensing valves in the feeders.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a single-line' uniow recirculating system for dispensing fluid, the system being provided with fluid-dispensing feeders each of which has one cr more fluid-dispensing valves, and, in which system each of said dispensing valves is adapted todispense fluid under pressure alternately from one of two associated outlet ports.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a syst-em in which the feeders may be made to operate either successively or otherwise, for instance, one at a point further away from the pump may be made to operate prior to one nearer to the pump, and in which system the loss of volume or the loss of velocity of fluid flow in the line, due to some of the u'id being dispensed from other feeders in the line, may be compensated for so that it will not affect the frequency of discharge of uid from the dispensing valves of other feeders in the line.

It is another object of my invention tov provide a novel pump which is particularly adapted for use in the present system.

On the market today, there are two well-known hydraulically operated systems for distributing fluid, known as the dual-line system and the single-line reversible system respectively. In both of these systems it is necessary to have a reversingv valve,'which to date has been found to be quite expensive to'manufacture and quite costly to operate and maintain due to replace- 'ments madeY necessary by wear and tear on the of fluid pumped therefrom.

4. An additional volume control valve is provided for use inmy system where any type of non-positive operating pump is used.

5. The volume of uid being pumped throughthe line to the respective feeders in my system Ynormallyv determines the frequency of operation of the hydraulic operators of the respective feeders and "consequently normally determines the Afrequency of operation of the dispensing valves.

6. Means is provided for insuring operation of the dispensing valves where resistance at the outlet points is to be overcome, said means consisting of an adjustable flow-impedance member which may be adjusted to cause pressure to be'developedin the line to any amount that may reasonably be required to overcome the resistance at the'outlets from the dispensing valves.

7.. Constant indication of ow of fluid returning from the pipe-line is provided and each such .visuall indication of ow of fluid indicates that one or more of the hydraulic operators of the respective feeders hasmoved.

V8. Individual adjustment for lcontrolling the frequency of operation of the hydraulic operator of each feeder and consequently controlling the frequency of operation of the dispensing valves may be provided for at each feeder, if desired, and such means may also, be used for individual indications of the movement of the hydraulic operator valve of each feeder, and individual indication of each dispensing valve may be provided for, either projecting from the valve itself or it may be located at each point where fluid is to be distributed, if desired.

' 9. The system will handle practically any type of duid, but is especially adapted for the handling of either grease or oil.

10. It is possible to service one group of receptacles on one sector and to shut off the dispensing port outlets in another or other sectors where their use is not desirable.

11. The feeders used in this system are compact and inexpensive to manufacture and they may be made with a wide Variation of the number of outlets from one feeder.

12. Each measuring valve may be provided with adjustable means to control the quantity of fluid -dispensed by it, wherever this is required.

The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate similar parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic general View of my new and improved fluid distributing system, showing l some of the parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the feeders taken on line 2-2 of Figs. 3 and 4; Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on two planes at right angles as indicated by line 5--5 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the positions of the operating elements in a diierent phase of l,

the operating cycle;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view in elevation taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 9 showing my volume control valve;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the same taken on Referring more specifically to the schematic l illustration of my invention, as shown in Fig. 1,

this embodiment of my uniow recirculating distributing system comprises a pump which pump is provided with adjustable means for controlling the volume of fluid pumped therefrom; the fluid next passes through a pressure gauge and is then passed on through the pipe-line to the respective feeders, passing through the same and returning through the pipe-line to an adjustable flow-impedance member having a Visible flow indicator through which it passes into the pump reservoir.

It is obvious that any type of pump may be used with this system by connecting it to a volume control Valve such as I have disclosed, but the pump disclosed is particularly Well suited, since the effective stroke of the pistons may be readily and easily adjusted to control the volume of fluid discharged. The volume control valve is merely a substitute for controlling the volume of fluid discharged from non-positive types of pumps.

Also where the frequency with which the feeders are to be operated is of small importance and where but little pressure is required at the points of discharge from the dispensing pistons of the feeders, the volume control valve and the pressure gauge and the indicators on the hydraulic-operators of the feeders as well as the flow-impedance member may be omitted, or one or more of them may be omitted as desired.

The pump illustrated is designated generally by the numeral 2550 and comprises a member 20| of rectangular or square cross section having a closure member or cap 203 which is removably mounted in any suitable manner to permit filling of the reservoir. The reservoir comprises the cylindrical member and its said cap together with closure means at its lower end.

The member 201 is substantially closed by a base plate 265 having an inturned and upwardly projecting collar 291 in which is mounted the piston cylinder block 288 of the pumping mechanism. The base plate 225 is secured to an inturned flange or bearing member 209 on the base of the member 20! in any suitable manner such as by the bolts 2 iii.

The piston cylinder block 288 is adjustably mounted in the collar 29? and in order to permit the adjustment to be made, the said block is preferably provided with a portion adapted to project beneath the collarY 2537 at all times. This projecting portion is secured to a lower member 2H, constituting the outlet portion of the pump, by any suitable means such as the external screw threads on the block 223 and the internal threads on the top of the member 2| l. The top portion of said member 2H preferably is externally formed as a hei-:ed nut 2|3 and the lower or shank portion of said member is reduced and provided with an external thread as shown at 2id. Adjustably mounted on this threaded portion 255 of said member 2H, are two internally threaded and externally knurled nuts Zi'l and 2li) between which are clamped the arms of a forked member 221, extending from a plate 223 which is xedly mounted and secured to the pumpcylinder in any suitable manner. Thus the turning of these nuts in a manner to normally cause them to move upwardly on the threaded shank 245, causes the shank to be lowered, drawing with it the associated piston block Zet. The reverse motion is obvious.

The outlet member 2H is pierced or bored to provide an outlet passage 225 and the lower end of said outlet member, preferably concentric with said passage, is counterbored and internally screw threaded as shown at 22? to receive one end of a pipe-line 229, while the upper end of said outlet member, preferably concentric with said passage, is count-erbored to receive a valve member designated generally by the number 231.

The valve member 23! comprises a valve body 233, transversely bored to form a cylinder, as

Y shown at 235, to accommodate a small reciprocatablepiston 231, the said bore beingsuitably plugged at its ends. At the upper portion ofV each end of the said cylinder, it is provided with an inlet po-rt, said ports being designated by the numerals 239 and 24| respectively. In the mid portion of the said cylinder there is provided a valve outlet port 243 registering with the pump outlet passage 225.

The pump piston block 298 is provided with two spaced cylindrical bores 245 and 241 bored through fro-m top to bottom, and said bores register with the respective valve inletports 239 and 24|. Said valve inlet ports are preferably counterbored as shown to accommodate pierced locating members 249 which are mounted in the base of the piston bores 245 and 241 and project into said counterbores of' the valve inlet portsA Suitable packing means are provided to prevent escape of fluid between the pump pist-on block and the inturned collar 201 of base plate 205 as shown by the numeral 25|.

Mounted to reciprocate in the respective bores 24| and 241 of the pump piston block 208, are pistons 253 and 255, which are connected to a drive shaft 251 suitably mounted in the pump,

reservoir, by connecting rods 259 and 26| respectively, the said connecting rods being concentrically mounted `on the shaft 251 in such manner that one piston makes a power stroke While the other makes a suction stroke.

For convenience in vmounting the said drive shaft 251, I prefer'to cast the portion 20| of the pump with an internally projecting bearing 21| and to cast a similar bearing 213' in a plate member 215 tting-into and closing an opening `211 in the side wall ofthe cylinder, the said plate being anged and bolted to said cylinder wall.

Between the two piston bores 245 andr241, the piston block is further provided'with a central bore 28| which penetrates to a point below to accommodate the pistons in all positions of adjustment, and atthat point the passage opens into each of the cylindrical bores as shown by the branch passages 283 and 285.

Fromv the foregoing description, it Ywill be seen Athat asthe pump shaft 251fis rotated, the pistons 253 and 255 make alternate strokes in their bores 245 and 241 so that Vwhen they are occupying the positions shown in Fig.` lthe piston 253 has just commenced its suction stroke and the piston 255 Vhas just commenced its power stroke, fluid having been sucked from the reservoir through the central passage 23! vand the 'branch passage 285 of the pump piston block member 208 into the bore 241 so that the piston 255 is now pumpl piston' 253 vin making its suction stroke createsv a vacuum in thebore 245f-so'that as the piston raises beyond the passage 283 vfluid will be sucked into said bore 245 from whenceit will be discharged through'the 'valve"inlet port 239 causing the piston 231 to move to the rightv and permitting the escape of the"fluid under pressure to the'outlet' port of the pump.

VReferring now tothe flow-impedance member with its visual indicator, all of which is shown mounted on the cap 203 of the pump, thersame comprises 'a body member `300 p'rovidedwith a large cylindrical bore 30| in the base thereof projecting upwardly to a substantiall degree, and in which is mountedin any suitable manner, `a

transparent'member 303, such as glass, through which the iiow of fluid may be visually discerned. The member 300 is secured to an opening in the cap '.203 in any suitable manner, such as by means of the bearingl members, iianges and screw thread portions shown. The top portion of the body member 300 is provided with a cylindrical bore 3H for a substantial distance and thereafter a smaller bore concentric therewith is pierced down a substantial distance to form a cylindrical Wall 3|5 fora reciprocating valve piston 3|1 which is mounted therein. At the base of said cylindrical passage 3|5a return passage 3| 9 connects to the pipe-line return port 32| The piston valve 3|1 is provided with a stem.

323 of reduced diameter and with a cylindrical guide head 325, the latter being mounted in the enlarged bore 3|I.A A cap 33| to close the top of the member 300 is suitably secured'thereover in any suitable manner. This lcap is pierced to accommodate an adjustable screw member 333 having an elongated stem adapted to press upon a disk 335 which is also mounted in the bore 3| Between said disk and said piston head 325 is a strong compression spring 331. The piston bore 3|5 is provided with a passage 339 leading from a point substantially midway thereof and said passage terminates in a nozzle 34| discharging into the enlarged bore 39| from whence uid may pass into the pump reservoir.

The action of this member is as follows: Fluid returning from the pipe line under pressure enters the member 300 through the port 32| passing up the passage 3|9 into the bore 3|5 forcing the piston v3|1 to rise, thus compressing the spring 331 to such anextent as to permit the lower portion of the piston 3|1 to rise above the opening of passage 339 whencey iiuid can pass through said passage 339 and back to the pump reservoir and its iiow may be seen through the transparent member 303. 'As shown in Fig. 1, connected to the pipe-line 229 is a standard pressure'gauge 400 from which fluid passes to a continuation of the pipe-line and thence through the respective feeders and back to the reservoir, as previously described.

In case a geared pump or any non-positive operating pumpV is used, the pipe-line may be connected to a volume control valve, such as shown in Figs. 7-10 of the drawings, from which fluid will then pass to the continuation of the pipeline leading through the rest of the system.

The volume control valve includes a base mem'- ber 35| upon which is mounted a valve body 'member -353 secured thereto in anysuitable manner. The body member is longitudinally bored from top to bottom as shown Yat `355 to receive a cylindrical valve member 351 which is adapted to be manually turnedfor adjustment therein. rlhe upper portion of the cylindrical valve member 351 is reduced in diameter, as shown at 359, andl projects above the upper portion of the member 353 to'receive'a handle member 36| which is secured theretov in any suitable manner.

The upper portion of the body member 353 is counterbored as shown at 303 and provided WithA suitable packing `means 365 to prevent uid from leaking .out between the top of the cylindrical lvalve member 351 and the top of the valve cylinder. Said packing means surrounds the reduced V'portion 359 of the valve member 351 between l its enlarged portion and the handle.

oi said port, the valve member 351 is provided with an annular groove 369. The valve body 353 is also provided with an outlet port 3II to the pipe-line and opposite the central portion of said port, the valve 351 is provided with a groove 373 'Y -leading substantially three-fourths of the way around said cylindrical valve 351, the groove varying in depth and in width gradually from one side thereof to the other, tapering out to a rlne line. At a point connecting the largest portion of the groove 313, the valve portion 357 is also provided with a groove 375, connecting to the groove 359, whereby fluid may pass through the inlet port 357 into the groove 339 down through the groove 315, into the groove 373 and thence out through the port 3H' to the continuation of the pipe line.

For entrapping any of the fluid that might tend to leak out of said valve, I provide an additional outlet port 33! which may connect by a pipe line to any suitable receptacle or back to the pump reservoir and in the valve body 353, I also provide a passage 383 leading from the base of the reduced portion 359 of the valve member down to the base of the valve member 35i and I provide a port 335 connecting said passage 333 to the said outlet port 38|.

It will be seen that by turning the handle 35i, the valve portion 351 may be adjusted to control the volume of fluid passing to the valve outlet port 31 I.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 2 6, I have shown one embodiment of my hydraulically operated fluid dispensing feeder, the same having been disclosed in detail in my patent application, Serial No. 114,323, filed December 5, 1936. The feeder illustrated is provided with twenty outlet ports connected to associated pipe lines as shown in Fig. 1, which may lead to fluid receptacles or bearings. The feeder, comprising an automatic unifiow operated device, consists of a metallic body or casing I for housing the movable elements therein. For receiving fluid under pressure from the pump and pipe line of the system, I provide an inlet port 3 comprising a passage drilled longitudinally therein from one end. The inlet port 3 is provided with internal threads 5 adjacent its outer end for convenient connection with a continuation of the pipe line 229,

For discharging the fluid, after it has operated moving parts of the feeder in a manner to be subsequently described, I provide an exhaust port 3 by drilling a passage longitudinally into one end of the casing, preferably from the end opposite from the inlet Vport to facilitate connecting the device into the pipe line circuit. The outer end of the exhaust port 3 has internal threads I I for convenient connection with a continuation of the pipe line. v

As previously pointed out, the system is provided with suitable flow impedance means for maintaining a high back pressure in theV pipe line, say of about 530 pounds per square inch, thus insuring operation of each dispensing valve where the resistance is less than that.

Fluid dispensing ports I and I5 are provided, arranged respectively in upper and lower horizontal rows disposed in the two opposite sides of the feeder casing I for dispensing uid therefrom. Ports I5 are shown in cross section in Fig. 4 and ports i6 are shown in Fig. 3. Internal threads I'i are provided in the dispensing ports i5 and Iii to facilitate connection with individual pipes extending separately to the various stations or bearings to be served.

For dispensing the fluid from the ports I5 and I 6 automatically in response to unidirectional pressure applied by the fluid in the inlet port 3 of the feederI provide a hydraulic-operator comprising Ia hollow piston I9 which is slidably disposed in a cylindrical aperture or bore 2| extending axially through the casing, and which operates reciprocatably therein. Ihe construction and operation of my hydraulic-operator is also disclosed and described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 113,873, entitled I-Iydraulic-operator and filed December 2, 1935.

The opposite ends of the hollow piston IS are closed. by piston plugs 23 and the cylinder bore 2l by cylinder plugs 25 which are threadably secured therein. To one of the piston plugs 23 an indicator rod 21 is connected, as by threading or welding, and it projects from the casing through the adjacent cylinder plug 25 which is suitably apertured and provided with a packing nut 29 for compressing suitable packing to provide a sliding seal around the rod in a manner that will be readily understood. As the piston I3 reciprocates in the feeder casing I, the projected indicator rod 21 provides external indications of the continual operation of the device.

slidably disposed in the hollow piston is a piston valve 30 of the dumb-bell type comprising fluid flow restricting heads 3l, 33, 35 and 3l' connected by connecting rods 4I, 43 and 45 of reduced cross section to permit uidto flow freely around. Spacing stop pins project from opposite ends of the valve 30. 'I'he middle connector 53, which is smaller in diameter than the bore 4'! within the piston, is larger than the other connectors in order to provide interlocking grooves 65 and 50 at opposite ends to be interlockingly engaged by a pin 5I which is slidably disposed in a suitable aperture extending through the side wall of the hollow piston I9 near its mid point. The pin 5I is longer than the aperture in which it is slidably disposed. A camming plug 53, which is inserted through a suitable aperture in the side wall of the casing, is provided with interlocking recesses and 51 for engaging the outer end of the interlocking pin 5I. The carnming plug 53 has an enlarged head 53 which is threaded for accurately seating in an enlarged counter-bore 6I which is internally threaded for receiving the same A groove is provided in the inner end of the camming plug 53 for receiving the outer end of locking pin 5I and in cooperation with the recesses, prevents rotation of the hollow piston. A tool receiving aperture 53 is provided in the camming plug.

When the camming plug 53 is properly installed, the camming recesses 55 and 5'I on its inner end, are spaced apart in an axial direction in the casing I and the distance between them is substantially equal to the distance which the hollow piston I9 is free to slide in cylinder bore 2 I. This distance is determined by the length of the hollow piston I9 and the projected positions of the inner ends of the cylinder plugs 25. During the slidable movements of the hollow piston I9 in the casing, the interlocking pin 5I is depressed by the camming plug 53 to hold the slide valve 35 until the movement of the piston is completed when the slide valve is released, and conversely, when the parts are in position for the slide valve to shift, the cam portions thereof cause Vthe pin to be depressed into either of the camming recesses to prevent movement of the piston I9 simultaneously therewith.

For admitting the high pressure fluid into opposite ends of the 4cylinder bore 2I'to reversely the side wall of the hollow piston I9I is pierced by a passage 61 and a groove 69 is cut from the outerend axially inthe outer surface of the pistori whereby a continuous connection is provided to' supply fluidpressure in the piston I9 in all positions thereof. The `iiuid pressure is thus applied around the middle connector 43 of theslide valve in the space in the piston between heads 33 and 35. From the middle of the piston I9, the iiuid is passed througha port 'I9 and an axial passage 1 I into the left hand end of the cylinder bore 2| thus shifting the piston I9 to the right, and the slide valve Ystays in the same relative position to the `piston I9,having its head 35 to the right of the portfll.- Pressure entering through ports 3, S3 and SI now shifts slide valve 39 to the left,k the ports then being as shown in Fig. 6. The head 33 of the saidV valve 39 is now at the left of a port 1.3and `uid is then passed fromthe hollow piston through anV axial passage I5V into the right hand end of the cylindrical bore 2|, as shown in Fig. rI5, and the hollow piston I9-is then forced tothe left by said iluid pressure.

In order that the reciprocating movement of the hollow piston I9 may continue, as long as fluid pressures are applied in the inlet port 3, it is necessary to move the sliding valve kin response to the movements of the piston and this is accomplished by applying fluid pressures alternately into opposite ends oi the hollow piston. For this purpose, I provde'a passage 'I'I which connectsfrom the inner end of the inlet port 3 and suitably pierces the side wall of thel bore 2| for conductively connecting Witha port 19, which pierces the adjacent side wall of the hollow piston, when the piston is at its left position, as in Fig. 5. This tends to push the sliding valve to itsright hand position, as shown ,in Fig. 5. The valve assumes this position immediately after the piston I9 attains its extreme left hand position, and upon its movement the locking pin 5I is depressed into recess 55 in the manner pre-- viously described.

When the hollow'piston I9 lis in its right hand position, as shownin Fig. 6, the port 8i, which pierces the side wall thereof, connects conductively with the stationary port 83 which leads into the inlet port 3.' This connection applies iiuid pressure in the right hand end of theV hollow piston for moving the ,slide valve to the left hand end as viewed in Fig. 6.V

"In order that the valve may thus continue to slide in alternatively opposite directions in response to fluid pressures applied alternatively to opposite ends thereof, it is necessary to exhaust the fluid charged into the oppositel end of the hollow piston I9 by the previous operation. For this purpose an exhaust port 85 is so disposed in the piston side wall adjacent the left end of the piston that it connects with astationary exhaust port8'I leading into the outlet port- 9 in the casing, when the piston is in its right hand position, as in Fig. 6. In the alternative position on the Vpiston I9, as shown in Fig. 5,'a port'89 connects with a port 9| leading into the outlet port'9 for exhausting iiuid previously charged into the right hand endof the piston.V

It willthus be vseen thatv the application of iluid pressure "in the inlet'port 3causes pressures to be applied alternatively through-the passages 'II or 'I5 for reversely moving the hollow piston under the control oi the slidable valve 30 carried therein, and that the movement of the piston completes iluid conducting connections for successively reversely operating the sliding valve. Theoperation of the sliding valve 39 and oi the piston I9 is further controlled by the locking pin 5I whichfprevents simultaneous movement there- From-the respective` rows of dispensing ports I5 and I6, measured quantities of iiuid are discharged alternatively and successively by the continued operation of Lthe hydraulic-operator. For this purpose, the side wall of the hollow piston I9 of my hydraulic-operator is drilled to provide a .passage 93 extending axially therethrough, andthe ends of the passage are closed by metallic plugs 95 threaded or welded therein. From theintermediate portion of the hollow piston I9, into-which fluid pressures are continuously applied from the inlet port 3 as previously explained, I provide a transverse passage 9I which connects into the. middle of the elongated axial iiuid Adispensing passage 93 in the piston.

In accordance with my invention, the fluid dispensed from the elongated dispensing passage 93 in the piston to the respective dispensing ports I5 and I6 is measured and this is accomplished in measuring chambers 99. vThere are half as many dispensing chambers as there are ports I5 and I6.- For instance, the feeder shown in Figs'. 2-6 is provided with ten measuring chambers 99, and with twenty discharge outlets I5 and I6, half ofthe outlets being on one side and half on the other side of thev feeder as may be seen in plan view in Fig. 1.

Each `measuring chamber 99 is a cylindrical bore drilled transversely through the casing I to slidably receive a. measuring piston IUI. The ends of the measuring chambers 99 are provided with ,counter-bores III2 which are threaded for receiving plugs |93, having Vwrench receiving apertures I5, as shown in Fig. 4. Spacing pins I0'I extend from opposite ends of each measuring piston, IDI forabutting'the end plugs |03 to stop the pistonsrin spaced relation therefrom.

- For adjusting the degree of movement of the measuring piston I9 I an adjustable threaded stop rod |09 is threadably mounted in anadjusting plug III which may be conveniently installed inY any of the chambers Where it is desirable to provide for .adjusting the measured quantities of fluid discharged therefrom. A wrench receiving portion'l I3 of square or Vhexagonal conformation may be provided for installing or removing the adjusting plug III.

A conduit passage II5 connects from one end of keach measuring chamber 99 and extends toward the axis of the cylinder bore 2I for intersection With the sidewall thereof.` From the opposite end of each measuring chamber, a passage II'I extends to similarly intersect the walls of the cylinderbore 2I, loui-l at a smaller angle fromv the chamber 99. VVThe. respective opposing passages II5 and II'I of eaohjmeasuring chamber 99 thus connect into the cylindrical bore 2l from alternately opposedV sides of each succeeding chamber 99, that is to say passage II,5,.which is directed toward the axis of the `bore from one side of the first measuring chamber, is connected from the opposite end oi the next measuring chamber, and so on as may be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Throughout the length of the casing I, the measuring chambers 99 are thus` provided with the end connecting passages II5 andrl disposed on alternatively opposite sides of the casing.

Wherever it is desired t-o have indication of the operation of any individual dispensing valve, an indicator rod |59 may be provided on the dispensing pistons I9I passing through the plugs |63 which maybe suitably apertured and packed as shown in Fig. ll; When it is desired to have the indicator also control the amount of fluid to be discharged, the adjustable stop rod |99 may be omitted, and capacity of the dispensing feeder may be regulated by the structure shown in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein an indicator rod protecting sheath |61 of tubular conformation is provided, projecting outwardly from the cylinder plug through which the indicator rod projects, and the sheath is provided with open side Wall portions |69 through which the indicator rod |59 may be observed.

The tubular sheath |51 is provided with threads I'Ii) to receive an adjustable stop plug I'II for engaging the outer end of the indicator rod |59 as it is projected from the dispensing cylinder 99. By adjusting the position of the stop plug I'II in the sheath, the degree of movement of the dispensing piston I9I may be conveniently varied and consequently the quantity of fluid discharged may be varied. A second threaded lock plug |73 is turned into the sheath for locking the stop plug I'I I.

As the piston I9 slides in the casing it dispenses fluid from the elongated dispensing passage 93 into the ends of the measuring chambers 99 through passages |I9 provided in the piston and disposed in alternately opposite directionsfor connecting With the passages H5, By this arrangement the measuring piston HH in each measuring chamber is moved in the reverse direction, as compared with the adjacent pistons. As shown in Fig. 3, the measuring piston IUI has completed its movement to the right in the measuring chamber, and in so moving it discharged a predetermined quantity of fluid which had been previously charged in on the opposite side of the piston. The dispensed iiuid passed out through an arcuate groove |2I, cut inthe peripheral outer surface of the right side of the piston for connecting with the inner end of a passage |23, through which the dispensed iiuid passed out of the adjacent dispensing port I5.

In the next adjacent measuring chamber, as shown in Fig. 4, the fluid under pressure was passed from the dispensing passage 93 by Way of passages I|9 and ||5 into the right end of the chamber 99 forcing the measuring piston IUI to the far or left end and dispensing the fluid previously charged therein, through the passage III around an arcuate groove |25 in the left side of the piston and thence by way of a passage |21 out of theadjacent dispensing port I6. There are a plurality of spaced grooves I2| and |25 Which are so arranged on the piston that half the passages |I5 connect therewith and half of the passages I I 'I connect therewith in each position of the piston. As seen in Fig. 2, vfive of these grooves are located on one side of the piston and six on the other, and opposite each of said grooves in the piston one of the passages H9 is located, so that there are alternatelyV disposed on said piston live grooves and six passages II19 on one side thereof and six grooves and live passages II9 on the other side thereof. This makes a total of eleven openings on each side of the piston so that ten of them per side may register with the passages leading to lthe ten respective l measuring chambers at each end of the piston stroke.

In a given position of the piston I9, each of the pistons I 0| shifts, but only one half of the dispensing ports are thus served. When the piston is next moved to its alternative position, by the reciprocating movements automatically induced and maintained by the pressure of the fluid entering the inlet port 3, the other half of the dispensing ports are then served. This is accomplished by the movement of the piston in carrying its dispensing passages II9 to inject fluid into the ends of each measuring chamber from which fluid was discharged by the previous operation. Simultaneously, each arcuate groove E25 and I2I in the piston, except the pair closest to one of the plugs 25, is connected with the adjacent measuring chamber 99 for taking the iiuid dispensed therefrom into the adjacent dispensing port which was disconnected in the previous 0peration.,

It will be noted that any suitable means may be provided for varying the amount of fluid displaced upon each stroke of the piston I9. For instance, by substituting an indicator having a larger diameter, or by using an indicator on both ends of the piston I9, less fluid will be received and displaced in the respective ends of the cylindrical bore 2| of the casing and thus the reciprocation of the piston will be speeded up materially.

It will further be noted that any of the outlet ports I5 and I6 may be plugged by suitable plugs cr that the branch pipes leading therefrom may be provided with a stop ycock I8, as shown in Fig. 3; thus b-y any such means, the opposite outlet ports of any feeder may be plugged without affecting the operation of any of the other dispensing valves of any feeder.

Aside from the specic embodiments of the invention herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed, and that I do not desire to limit the invention to the exact constructions herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A liquid distributing system comprising, a pump, a casing having a single liquid inlet adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said pump, a single exhaust port for exhausting liquid icy-passing through said casing, said casing including Va liquid dispensing measuring means having a plurality 'of dispensing ports and means for controlling liquid 'under pressure to said measuring means and for operating the same, said control means being adapted to continuously receive liquid under pressure from the pump through sai-d casing inlet and to be operated con'- tinuously by the pressure of the liquid Yso received and to continuously icy-'pass a portion of the liquid out of said single exhaust port, and means for regulating the rate of iiuid delivery from said pump,

2. A li'quiddistributing 'system comprising, a pump, a pipe-line -connected thereto, a liquid dispensing feeder connected to said pipe-line having a -single inlet adapted to receive liquid under pressure 'from said pump and pipe-line, and a single exhaust port -ior exhausting liquid bypassing through said feeder,-'said feeder also having a reciprocatable valve adapted to dispense a measured quantity of liquid upon each stroke thereof land to be operated 'by the 'pressure of said liquid, said feeder also having means adapted to control liquid under pressure alternately to opposite sides of said reciprocatable valve, said control means being adapted to continuously receive liquid under pressure from the pump through said feeder inlet and to be operated continuously by the pressure of the liquid so received and to continuously by-pass a portion of the liquid out of said single exhaust port, and means for regulating the volume of uid delivered from said pump.

3. A liquid distributing system comprising, a pump, a casing having a single liquid inlet adapted to receive liquid under'pressure from said pump, a single exhaust port for exhausting liquid by-passing through said casing, said casing including a liquid dispensing measuring means having a plurality of dispensing ports and means, including a reciprocatable member, for controlling liquid under pressure to said measuring means and for operating the same, said control means being adapted to continuously receive liquid under pressure from the pump through said casing inlet and to be operated continuously by the pressure of the liquid so received and to continuously by-pass a portion of the liquid out of said single exhaust port, and

a pressure maintaining means Where the fluid passes from said system.

4. A liquid distributing system comprising a pump having a liquid reservoir, a pipe-line connected to thepump and returning to the pump reservoir and provided with adjustable means for controlling the volume of liquid flowing therethrough under pressure, a plurality of liquid dispensing feeders connected to said pipe line, each of said feeders having a single inlet adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said pump through said pipe-line and each of said feeders having a single exhaust port for exhausting liquid by-passing through the feeder, and each of said feeders having at least one reciprocatable dispensing valve adapted to dispense a quantity of fluid upon each'stroke thereof and also having a reciprocatable control valve for controlling liquid under pressure alternately to opposite sides of the associated reciprocatable dispensing valve or valves, the reciprocatable control Valve of each feeder being adapted to be continuously reciprocated by the pressure of the liquid entering its associated feeder through said feeder inlet and to vcontinuously by-pass a portion of the liquid out of said single exhaust to a continuation of the pipeline, one of said feedershaving a visible member movable With the action of the reciprocatable control valve, means for varying the quantity of uid dispensed from a dispensing valve, means f'or indicating the action of said dispensing valve, a yielding resistance means for controlling the flow of the fluid at the end of said conduit, and enclosed visual means for 0bserving the return flow or" fluid from the pipev line to the pump reservoir.

5. In combination, a pump, a conduit leading ers having means for selectively discharging a measured quantity of liquid to a plurality of receptacles, each of said means being actuated by liquid under pressure passing through the conduit in a continuous direction of flow.

6. A single-line uniiioW recirculating liquid dispensing system comprising, a pump, a conduit leading from said pump and returning thereto for circulating and recirculating liquid in one predetermined direction, a plurality of liquid discharging feeders connected to said conduit intermediate the ends thereof, each of said feeders having at least two outlet ports and a liquid dispensing Valve associated therewith for dispensing liquid alternately from said ports so long as liquid circulates through said conduit.

DAVID R. I-IILLIS. 

